Keto and surgery recovery

(Elaine) #1

Hello,

I’ve been doing keto for a few years. No health issues, never diabetic, etc.

Had surgery for a ruptured appendix 6 weeks ago. While home recovering I went off keto and ate lots of carbs: ice cream, pizza, bread, potato chips, etc. For comfort and thinking that my body needed a lot of energy to heal. I didn’t get the scale for 4 weeks. Weighed myself 2 weeks ago and weighed only 1 more pound than prior to surgery.

I started keto again two weeks ago and am now 2 pounds less than what I was prior to the surgery, in spite of eating all those carbs for 4 weeks.

I’m so confused (not complaining) why I didn’t gain any weight for those 4 weeks.
Was my body still needing energy for recovery or had my body adapted to keto?

Any thoughts on why no weight gain?

Thanks!
Ruby

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

Maybe your body used almost every bit of those carbs for repairs.

Lucky, I guess! :cowboy_hat_face:

(Karen) #3

Actually I’m surprised. That hasn’t been my experience. I was a mess and for Christmas and ate way to many carbs. I gained 4 to 6 pounds. It’s coming off slowly.

(Elaine) #4

I’m specifically interested in hearing what the surgery would have to do with not gaining weight during this healing time.

Does it make sense my body needed energy?

#5

I don’t think it’s always clear why things happen, which really sucks since it would be nice to know. … But similarly, I had surgery this past week as well. And unfortunately, the Hospital foods they offered were nowhere near to being Keto-Friendly. And though I wasn’t concerned at all about that, and just ate what they provided, I seemed to have lost weight still as well? … And yes, this was some carby stuff indeed, including breads, potatoes, sugars, etc. … Who knows? Maybe being Keto had my metabolism working enough to burn through this? Again, I wish I knew, but simply back home now and getting back into things as they were before surgery.

(J) #6

I stayed keto during my surgical recovery over the summer and was surprised at how easy my recovery was compared to prior surgeries. Especially since I am 20 years older than I was with my last surgery.

To your question: you probably didn’t gain weight because you weren’t eating more than your body needed to heal itself.

(Elaine) #7

Thanks ! It sorta made sense that a lot of energy was needed for healing.

Sorta felt like a lovely karma (reward) for having to go through the surgery!

I’m also glad I went back on keto when I did. I still look fondly at the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in the freezer section!

Speedy recovery to you Digital_Dave!

I stayed away from that hospital food. I realized it’s almost the same low quality as what we feed kids in school lunches.

Cheers all!

(mole person) #8

When you have a surgery your body enters a hypermetabolic state to recover quickly. You burn way more calories.

From Wikipedia:

Hypermetabolism is the physiological state of increased rate of metabolic activity and is characterized by an abnormal increase in the body’s basal metabolic rate…

Hypermetabolism typically occurs after significant injury to the body. In hospitals and institutions, the most common causes are infections, sepsis, burns, multiple traumas, fever, long-bone fractures, hyperthyroidism, prolonged steroid therapy, surgery and bone marrow transplants.

(Elaine) #9

Ilana_Rose - thank you for that! I never heard of hypermetabolism. I’ll do more research to see how long this phenomenon lasts.

I appreciate your time.

(Karen) #10

I think this is what happens also when you have stresses is on the body like HIT

(Jasna Nicolson) #11

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Currently recovering from surgery in hospital, above is my portion of ketogenic breakfast. Dietician flatly refused to make adjustments as the Keto diet is not an approved diet. Not even to portion size
So after my ‘discussion’ with said dietician who informed me the goal diet included a whopping 300g of carbs btw and then - they are now monitoring my blood ketone levels every 2 hours. I feel a little bullied, but at least they pay for the ketone test strips (bonus!)
This is in Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney by the way

Tips if you are in this situation - please share any strategies you may have:
Get relatives to bring avocados, cheese and olives to supplement meals & butter